#[[ I appreciate the sentiment but out of respect for the character and the way I want to write him

[msunitedstatesjames]

I've touched on this in a couple of other semi-related posts before, but I find it hilarious and I appreciate how much Johanna Hezenkoss thinks Emmrich is the protagonist of Veilguard. Like, this woman could not give less of a fuck about Rook. She almost always refers to Rook only by their relationship to Emmrich. She refers to Rook as "one of Volkarin's hangers-on," "that impudent whelp following [Emmrich] around," "Volkarin's companion," and as Emmrich's "paramour." None of these imply that she thinks Rook has much agency. Instead, she acts like Rook is just helplessly following Emmrich around like a puppy, helping him complete tasks (which I guess is partly true).

If Rook romances Emmrich, Hezenkoss assumes that Emmrich seduced Rook and not the other way around, even though Emmrich is noticeably older than Rook and has hardly left the Necropolis in years. She's seemingly amazed by it, and yet it never once crosses her mind that Rook might have initiated the relationship (which is actually the case).

She also refers to Emmrich as the one who destroyed her construct, which is technically true, but she ignores the major assistance he had from Rook, another companion, and most notably Manfred. He couldn't have pulled it off without their help, and had in fact given up, but Hezenkoss acts like Emmrich was her sole opponent in that battle.

I've said before that part of the reason for this is that Hezenkoss seems to think of herself as the main villain of the story, so Emmrich must be the main hero. Hezenkoss says that some of the other big bads of Dragon Age, the Venatori, were nothing more to her than slightly useful and genuinely annoying. She clearly thinks herself above an entire organization of some of the most powerful mages in the world. And she sees Emmrich as pretty close to her in terms of raw power, since she almost invited him to her Vengeance Party but ultimately decided he was too much of a danger to her plans. She also states that she tried to get him to join her in the past, which I don't think she would do for anyone she considered to be less than her equal. Emmrich is genuinely the only person in the game she shows any respect for. Though she mocks his age and finds him to be too sentimental, too moral, and too fearful, she shows signs of agreeing with him on some topics, and she obviously respects his abilities if nothing else. No one else in the game acknowledges his frankly ridiculous knowledge and skill level (except Solas in the end) as much as Hezenkoss does.

And really, Emmrich does have main character energy. Though he does have some age and mortality related fears, dude is overflowing with confidence. When you first meet him, looking for a Fade expert, he has absolutely no problem telling you he's the best possible person for the job. Though he apparently hasn't left the Necropolis in years, he's totally down to join the team and go anywhere you want him to go. If you romance him, he is initially surprised, but he quickly turns into the smoothest dude around, and throughout the game you can hear him comment on some of his many relationships through the years. He's well-dressed, well-spoken, charismatic, highly educated, unfailingly kind, extremely powerful, and he's done so well for himself that Harding mistakes the son of a butcher and a cook for a member of the Nevarran nobility. No wonder Hezenkoss thinks he's the protagonist. The real protagonist is just out here winging it on guts and good luck alone.

[tobiasdrake]

*deep breath* Okay. Here we go.

I don't think the Netflix Avatar show likes women very much. It's a great show for fans of Aang, Sokka, Zuko, and Iroh specifically. All four of those characters get a ton of great material. In fact, it's super great for Sokka stans, because the show takes him ultra-seriously and can't go five minutes without one character or another (usually a woman) praising him.

But the way it handles its female cast is troublesome.

Katara

So, all three of the main trio got some changes made to their stories. They changed Aang's story so that he wasn't running away from his responsibilities; He was just clearing his head and somehow accidentallied himself into a tsunami. Whoopsy-dooodle. Aang did nothing wrong.

They changed Sokka's story so that him being a leader of his people and a great guardian warrior is treated with complete seriousness. Multiple times, characters stop to talk about how brave and noble Sokka is for taking on such an intense responsibility, and tell him to his face what a great warrior and a wonderful leader he is. Also his misogyny is erased.

And they changed Katara's story so that she directly got her mom killed because she sucks at waterbending.

Katara tries to waterbend to attack the Fire Nation soldier but couldn't manage it, provoking the soldier to start actively searching for her and forcing her mom to fake a waterbending attack and draw his fire. They changed Katara's story so that her bad decision making fucking got her mom killed.

This is treated with the same level of severity as "Sokka was bullied by mean kids and also his dad doesn't think he's good enough to be a leader."

"I hoped Sokka would do better but not everyone is meant to have people's lives in their hands," Sokka's dad says of him.

Yeah, you're right, that's totally comparable to watching your mom get barbecued because you tried to waterbend in a situation you shouldn't have and then failed.

In fact, they give Sokka's greatest trauma more weight because it gets examined again with Yue next episode, while Katara actively getting her mom killed isn't brought up again at all. We get traumatized glimpses of it throughout the season leading up to the reveal, but after this scene in episode 5, it never comes up again.

But to be fair, Katara was a child. An event this significant would surely have motivated her, driving her to become the great waterbender she is now, right?

No! Katara sucks at waterbending and needs men who aren't even waterbenders to teach her how to waterbend. She requires instruction from Aang in episode 1 to learn how to waterbend, then from Jet in episode 3 to learn how to waterbend better.

And unlike the show, her relationship with Aang isn't a give-and-take; Katara doesn't teach Aang a single goddamn thing. He never learns to waterbend. She is a strictly a pupil throughout the whole season. Though she at least gets officially labeled a master in episode 8, so there's that.

In any case, the whole traumatic memory thing isn't even the only time she's directly compared with Sokka. Episodes 3 and 4 see Katara and Sokka bicker over whose morally dubious side character is better. Sokka likes the Mechanist and Katara likes Jet.

Ultimately, Katara is forced to eat crow when Jet turns out to be the worst, while Sokka is vindicated when the Mechanist sees the error of his ways and reforms. But not before two separate arguments where Sokka calls Katara childish and accuses her of acting like a little girl.

Arguments ultimately resolved when Katara apologizes to Sokka for not adequately respecting his very serious and ultra important role as village protector and leader. Gives him a whole speech about how great and glorious he is. And Sokka... appreciates Katara learning to respect him properly, I guess, because he never offers any similar sentiments back to her.

The show just... They need you to know how important Sokka is, okay? It's very important that you respect Sokka.

Suki

Suki suffers tremendously from that whole "Sokka's misogyny was removed" thing. Y'know, because they need something else to do with that episode. The show is deeply aware that Suki is Sokka's love interest, so they just do that right off the bat. Suki falls madly in love with him from the moment they meet, and spends the entire episode making goo-goo eyes and trying to get him to Notice Me Senpai.

They still do the "Suki Trains Sokka" stuff. But Sokka is a serious, dignified manly man worthy of the deepest respect now, so of course they don't make him wear the Kyoshi uniform. Instead, the main purpose of his training is to allow them to flirt some more. It's less martial arts training and more an excuse to grope each other and near-kiss.

Suki's just a waifu now. She still fights real good, but all of the stuff that made her relationship with Sokka interesting has been erased.

Yue

Yue, similarly, leaps straight to shipping from the word go. They write out her fiance, Hahn, by having Yue briefly meet Sokka earlier in the season. She spends one minute talking to him in the Spirit World about Spirit World lore; In that time, she falls so desperately, madly, unfathomably in love with him that she breaks off her marriage to Hahn and devotes herself to waiting for him to one day come to her.

"Never have I known such joys as that time you let me explain the spirit bear Hei Bei to you. Truly, we are destined to be together for life."

Like with Suki, they go out of their way to have Yue and Sokka already be a ship from the word 'go' so they don't have to spend time developing any kind of meaningful attraction.

They just. They really want you to know that Sokka is the manliest and most desirable man ever to walk this earth. It is very important that you understand how great he is. Women hurl themselves into his arms with zero effort whatsoever, because he's just so goddamn irresistible.

Fortunately, Hahn is super okay with this turn of events. He's the most chill guy ever, he gets along perfectly well with Sokka, and he completely supports Yue's right to dump him! In the famously misogynistic Northern Water Tribe, no less! What a swell guy. Aren't men swell?

June

June gets hit with that "rewritten as hollow waifu" stick too, but her eyes are set on Iroh. They rewrote June to be super attracted and flirty towards the man who was her unwanted sexual harasser in the source material. So that's fun.

Also, she barely does anything. Zuko hires her to find Aang, she succeeds, and then she fucks right off out of the show - But she manages to find time to express how unbelievably sexy Iroh is twice during that time.

She seriously just dropped into the show to flirt with Iroh and leave. She is unbelievably inconsequential.

Kyoshi

And then there's Kyoshi. They really want you to hate Kyoshi. She's constantly shot from below, as if looking down on Aang and the audience. Her voice takes on a demonic echoing reverb at one point as she's screaming at Aang that "THE AVATAR MUST BE A MERCILESS WARRIOR!!!"

She despises Aang, calling him a coward for running away from his responsibilities - Which, I remind you, is no longer a plot point because they unwrote that flaw from his character. So she's just a complete and utter asshole, shot from the asshole angle, yelling violently at him with asshole sound effects. They want you to despise this woman.

Azula

Awkwardly, they do not seem to want you to despise Azula.

There's a lot to be said for how Ozai treats Azula in the original show. The way the favoritism he shows her is every bit as cruel and manipulative as the unfavoritism that he shows Zuko. Ozai does not love Azula. He loves the reflection of himself he sees in her eyes, and his encouragement urges her to polish herself to ensure his reflection always shines through.

This is not that. The show instead erases the favoritism entirely. Ozai doesn't really care one way or another about either of his kids. He plays them against each other, bragging openly to Azula about how great Zuko is and unpleasably writing Azula off as weak and useless.

They've rewritten the dynamic between abusive father and his two abused kids in order to take Azula's pride away. Reimagining her from a gifted prodigy who excels at imitating the toxic behaviors of a father who doesn't truly care for her, to a put-upon overachiever tearing herself in knots to live up to the standards of her unpleasable father.

This results in a truly wild portrayal of Azula as insecure and jealous of Ozai's seemingly love for Zuko. Here, she is simply a browbeaten child constantly complaining to her friends about how mean her father is and conspiring to get one up over Daddy's Golden Child Zuko.

Which she fails at, because she backs Zhao. Zuko deftly defeats her without even realizing they're in competition.

Conclusion

The season ends well for some of these women. It ends promising that maybe we'll see Katara teaching Aang some day. It ends with Zhao bragging that Ozai just used Zuko to train Azula so maybe we'll see the more confident and misguidedly proud Azula some day. Yue becomes the moon like she's supposed to. June's still out there so maybe she'll get to do something again some day.

Katara gets to fight Pakku and lose, but she looks pretty cool. She gets to fight Zuko and lose, but she looks pretty cool. Azula learns to lightningbend because she's just so mad about Ozai's contempt for her and favoritism for Zuko, which isn't how you lightningbend.

But promises of future content fall flat when the content that exists is so underwhelming. This season made its feelings on these characters pretty evident, and it's unwise to expect better material from creators who've disappointed you with the material they already made.

The women of Netflix Avatar simply do not get to shine, outside of superficial moments like the "Women of Northern Water Tribe demand the right to fight and then fuck off and don't do anything for the entire rest of the episode" bit.

"In the midst of battle, we demand that you stop being sexist and give us permission to fight! This is a way better idea than convincing you to teach us to fight before the battle begins."

The characters of this show feel as if they've been reimagined to glorify the boys at the expense of the girls. The boys are treated with a great amount of care. They're dignified and made important movers of the plot, with their rough edges sanded off. While the girls are molded around them.

[ennn]

Let's appreciate how complex Agatha's relationship with Billy is

GIF credit to @isagrimorie

The genuine emotion brimming from Agatha in this moment is very interesting and I really want to break down all the layers of how Agatha is relating to Billy—because it is truly not as simple as Agatha feeling sentimental or motherly to Billy.

There are a few layers at work here (and I also want to give a shout-out to @trickofthelights for her excellent recap points):

Billy reminds Agatha (enough) of herself

There are two driving forces at the core of Agatha as a character. We know this because her characterisation has been incredibly consistent throughout the show and Schaeffer has talked about them, which is: (a) Agatha is self-serving and (b) Agatha loves powerful witchcraft.

Billy is a powerful witch who did a horrifying thing in order to survive. He's been lying to these wonderful parents. He also just tried murdering three people in a fit of rage, provoked by Agatha no less.

Would Agatha care if he was less powerful? Would Agatha care if he didn't have a dark side? If he hadn't shown to be duplicitous and dangerous and subject to his darker impulses?

If he wasn't alone and without a coven, a possible outcast even among witches because of his unusual origins and power?

I'm pretty sure the answer is no, she would not. She would have dismissed him the same way she did his "Teen" persona. Agatha doesn't care about witches, Agatha cares about powerful witches ��because that's who Agatha is and what drives her.

And we also got hints of this with Agatha and Wanda (hello consistent characterisation). In Schaeffer's words:

There is respect and almost affection inherent in [Agatha's interest in enormously powerful witchcraft], as indicated by how she felt about Wanda. She was mean to Wanda, but really she was fascinated by Wanda and admired her and wanted to hang out with her. 

And if this wasn't clear enough, what Agatha tells Billy shortly later about breaking the rules and being a true witch just screams projection (more on that in my next point).

I was delighted that Agatha really did bounce back from the attempted murder – but it's not because she's forgiving. Oh no, I think, Agatha was testing her theory by poking the bear (calculated move, bad at math) and she's glad she was proven right.

I mean, she not happy about the attempted murder but her curiosity wins out. You see her poking at Billy and trying to figure him out in the rest of this scene.

Agatha also hates self-righteous moralising and searches out for the darkness in people – delights in it even – because she knows people and she knows her own darkness.

Billy is different but also not so different from Agatha, as much as Billy or his mom would hate to admit.

Agatha is dealing with her childhood trauma

Yes, Agatha is projecting on Billy, but she makes a choice about it. We hear her telling him what she would have wanted someone to tell her: that they shouldn't be afraid or ashamed of who they are or what they did to survive, that they are part of a community.

Don't you dare feel guilty about your talent. ... That's what kept you alive. That's what makes you special. That's what makes you a witch.

She's trying to be the person she needed when she was a child, because she simply doesn't want someone else – particularly a younger witch – going through what she did.

She doesn't want anyone to go through what her mother put her through. And that's a choice.

Because there are a number of ways a character can deal with trauma: they can lash out and bring others down, wanting others to experience to the pain they went through, or they can realise that what happened to them shouldn't happen to anyone else in their position.

There's something beautifully self-serving but also selfless in that, because this is a way for Agatha to heal from her trauma. She can tell Billy things she may not be able to tell herself.

And it's interesting because as a self-serving villain, Agatha could just be jealous of Billy's power. But in this moment at least, Agatha's empathy and compassion – as buried as they usually are – prevail.

And yes, Agatha was fond of kid Billy

This is what Schaeffer touched on in her interview answer and it makes sense, with the insight that Agatha – like any good actor – does invest a bit of herself in every role she plays.

Agatha does have feelings (as much as they might make her vomit) and I do believe she has a soft spot when it comes to kids, given her experience with her son and her own childhood trauma. And that kids don't have the level of hypocrisy and darkness that adults do.

It makes sense that Agatha would have some level of care about the Scarlet Witch's magical kid Billy. And that is a fondness that has carried onto teenage Billy – who is powerful and a survivor and has a potential for darkness in a way she can relate to.

There are layers and they intersect and it all ties back to how Agatha is incredibly complex and yet consistent as a character.

[antiiqueness]

DANCE WITH ME

character: bakugou katsuki warnings: none i can think of, just kinda sad to sweet and very sentimental >.< words: 1.2k

synopsis:

”Years and years of Masaru begging his beloved son to listen and take interest in the things he did, before he eventually gave up. Katsuki didn’t even notice when exactly his father stopped asking him, wishing now more than ever he had listened. He wanted that outlet. He wanted to be able to find joy in tranquil activities. You made him want that.”

notes: i luv him so much i wanna die. i'm in the works for a spooky little AU for him as well as one for tomura so stay tuned for those im vv excited hehe

Growing up Katsuki's parents wanted him to be the best. To do everything. His mother wanted him to find art in more aggressive sports and hobbies. His father however, pushed for actual art. Masaru had a genuine joy for the peaceful and quiet, something of which he couldn’t enjoy as much as he’d wished for with the home he lived in. Nevertheless, in the seldom moments he had of quiet, he danced, and painted, and sat in the garden of their home, enjoying the moments he had to himself and his thoughts.  

As a kid, Katsuki hated how his father would get in specific “moods” where he just wanted to be to himself and his thoughts. He never truly understood it growing up, until he met you. You were so alike to his father; wanting to sit and enjoy the peace you had in random little moments and increments. It was such a foreign concept to Katsuki.  

He looked at you as if you were an anomaly. When the two of you had first begun dating, he just didn’t get it, who would want to be in areas of time where no one could sit and appreciate what you do. At least with volleyball, and boxing, and debate classes you earn respect for doing it and winning.  

He would sit and watch you in seemingly your own world, planting flowers, or annotating classic literature and be brought back in time to when he was 12 years old seeing his dad sit in the garden reading the same exact book with a pencil in hand. Certain foods you would make, and specific songs you would play would remind him of his father and how much Katsuki truly missed him. 

It was raining out the day he saw you swinging on the porch with a cup of tea and a book in hand, when he had called his dad. He wanted to understand it; he wanted that same peace the two of you seemed to hold so dearly. He wanted to bond over it.  

As a kid his father wanted him to take ballroom dance classes, was adamant it would be a healthy outlet to learn to express himself and to get lost in. Mitsuki and Katsuki were not big on the idea though, brushing it off and pursing their interests that more often than not landed them or others in hospital beds.  

Years and years of Masaru begging his beloved son to listen and take interest in the things he did, before he eventually gave up. Katsuki didn’t even notice when exactly his father stopped asking him, wishing now more than ever he had listened. He wanted that outlet. He wanted to be able to find joy in tranquil activities. You made him want that. 

“I'm going to my parents for a bit, want me to grab anything on the way home?” Katsuki stood by the door of the backyard, looking out at the back of your head, you sitting silently in a chair, rocking back and forth. “No, I'm okay baby. Thank you.” quietly muttered as if it were a secret, you don’t turn around. He doesn't want you to. He just stands for a moment more before muttering a quick goodbye and closing the door.  

The drive itself is weird. He doesn’t know if it’s age or if he was having an odd midlife crisis, but he doesn’t speak a word the entire drive, just quietly excelling forward.  

When he arrives at the house he had grown up in, spent every memory of birthdays and holidays, where he learned to ride a bike, where he had his first tooth fall out, every memory lingering in the air around the house, he just stands at the door for a moment.  

He doesn’t know what was different this time, but something was. Maybe himself. Maybe he had finally grown up. He was changed, and content with it.  

His attention is only brought back to the present tense when the door opens, and he sees his father's brown eyes staring back at him. Katsuki doesn’t know what comes over him, but without saying a single word, he gently pushes his way into the house and grabs ahold of his father. He felt like a little kid all over again. He just wanted to hug and talk to his dad. He wanted to take those ballroom dance classes. He wanted to bond with him. 

So that's what they did. Masaru was a man of few words most his life, keeping relatively quiet and to himself, but coming completely out of his shell with his son now. He had taught Katsuki everything he wanted to learn with a small smile and a joy Katsuki had never seen in his father.  

By the end of the night Masaru had grabbed an old record and put it on the player, having classical music whirl throughout the house, before turning to Katsuki and teaching him how to dance. Mitsuki watched quietly, quieter than Katsuki had ever seen her, with a smile and tears gleaming her eyes, happy she could see her two favorite people bonding in ways she knew her husband had always wanted to with him. 

Katsuki felt closer to them, he felt as though he had truly understood family finally. He drove home with a smile, a calm, content smile that had rarely graced his handsome face, cheerful all the way up the steps to the home he shared with you.  

Opening the door, he knew his perspective had changed, knew that life was different, a good different, and that he was fortunate enough to share it with you. You had this lopsided smile on your face when you had seen him walk through the door, raising an eyebrow and walking closer to him, covered in little raindrops.  

“I assume you had a good night at your parents’ place?” Helping him out of his jacket, you move to hang it on the rack before he stops you and interlaces his fingers with yours. “Let's dance.” he says simply, looking down at you with a look in his beautifully light eyes that gleamed and shone in enamor and affection.  

“What?” you laughed, taken aback and smiling even bigger, “Yeah, I wanna dance with you.” Tossing his phone onto the counter, the same song his father played for him started to drift throughout his new home, the home he shared with you, the home in which he held dearest of all, simply because you existed in it. you were his home.  

Grabbing ahold of you like his dad had shown him how to, he started to sway slowly, leaning his head against yours, and tightening his grip on your hips ever so lightly. He looked so odd, there was no anger, no irritation, no malice in his features whatsoever, just pure contentment. You wanted to live in this moment for the rest of the days you two had together, falling in love with him all over again.  

Katsuki Bakugou was great at many things, but as he grew and matured, he became great at understanding life, and how much peace was truly worth, especially if it meant this is how he could spend the rest of his life with you.  

[erenstitanweave]

❥HOW WE LOVE II

pairing: various x reader (jayce, mel, silco)

rating: giving/receiving love language headcanons

a/n: so...perchance this may be a series? please keep in mind this will be my first time writing for all upcoming characters, respectful criticism and advice on how to write them is welcome! SPOILER ALERT!! reblogs and comments are appreciated, hope you enjoy!!

JAYCE

giving:

jayce is definitely a touchy man, send tweet.

but no honestly i can see him actively trying to make sure you are NOT in his vicinity when he has things to or else they would never get done

not that's it's inherently a problem in his eyes, but he just loves you too much to ignore his urges to just be cuddled up to you over a project that can be done another day

before the events of the first season, he often delayed projects because majority of them would end with you on his workbench, gently running your fingers through his hair

words of affirmation are definitely something he loves to give to his significant other, especially if they're needed

he adores outpouring his love to his significant other with his words since he's often busy with anything revolving Hextech to be by your side more often

i feel like he'd often write small notes and letters for you, all with reminders of how much he loves you and how much you impact his life

receiving:

i feel like jayce is a sucker for acts of service and words of affirmation

he's an inventor at heart, so just hearing his significant other speak of him or his inventions so highly just makes him fall more and more in love

he loves it when you tell him how much you love him more than anything though, any compliment he's gotten about himself or his inventions from anyone else will never live up to the way you speak about him

i feel like in terms of acts of service, jayce doesn't want anything too over the top

just bringing him lunch and tea/coffee when he hasn't had the chance to get it himself or laying a blanket over him when he falls asleep at his workbench is more than enough to make his heart beat faster

i could see him actually faking being asleep at his workbench just to listen to what you say to him when he's asleep (more than likely this is how he found out you had feelings for him and he almost cut the act right then and there)

MEL

giving:

mel is probably the biggest gift giver ever, especially on an extravagant scale.

i feel like how much or how often the gifts cost/come are dependent on whether or not you like receiving many expensive gifts or a few sentimental ones

nonetheless though, she makes it a point to at least give you something if her time is being occupied by the entirety of Piltover

i feel like she would give acts of service but like, on a larger scale

she'd have a set few Enforcers that she trusts with her life help you whenever she couldn't have it done herself, making sure they do it immediately or if not immediately, as soon as possible

her love for pda also depends on if you're touchy in public or not, but she adores private intimacy with you

she'd have both of you in the finest fabrics imaginable, just together and holding each other either in public or in private, but in private, it's different

she's just mel around you, not mel medarda, not a part of Piltover's highest in power, just herself.

she cherishes the fact that you see her for herself, even after everything, you still stay by her side and that's something she'll forever be grateful for.

receiving:

words of affirmation. that's the tweet.

but on a more serious note, i genuinely think because of mel's relationship with ambessa has caused her to subconsciously or not second guess everything she's being told as truth unless she really trusts the person

she adores when she's told any hint of words of affirmation from her significant other, it just gives her a feeling like no other

mel's a sucker for physical touch in my eyes, especially pda.

i feel like she'd love someone who can barely keep their hands off of her, she knows how beautiful she is, but it's different hearing and being shown it from someone you love deeply

her favorite places for you to touch/hold are her hips and the small of her back, the latter she found out by absolute coincidence when she wore a backless dress around you for the first time and your hands couldn't get off of her

i think quality time is probably the hugest one for her, considering how much power she holds in Piltover, she doesn't get a lot of time with just the two of you

she makes sure to treasure it the best she can, whether that be through extravagant experiences or just relaxing in the other's presence for as long as possible

SILCO

giving:

silco is definitely a gift giving man, but not ordinary gifts like you'd expect.

in the beginning of your relationship, when he first began trusting you, he'd have his "accomplices" from Piltover find the best clothing and jewelry for you

but gradually, the gifts turned to a different direction as silco's love for you flourished.

the gifts took a more sentimental turn, things that both reminded him of his past with vander and things that he'd think you'd like.

as much as his past felt like a painful reminder to him, the gifts he gave you were related to fond memories he had. vintage drink glasses, records of his favorite songs, etc.

i also think silco would be willing to give physical touch if you asked, (he doesn't do anything unless you ask, i think he'd like hearing you ask him for things) but he rarely initiates on his own.

if he had a touchy significant other, i think he'd be relatively okay with it ONLY and ONLY if it's in private.

does not engage in pda at ALL. the most i think he'd do is have you either on his lap or right by his side, just to make sure you were safe.

receiving:

this man might be the king of loving acts of service, like genuinely.

sure, he has everyone doing favors for him, jinx and sevika being the main ones due to his trust in them, but with you? he asks everything but nothing at all.

he will never directly ask you to do things for him, no, he'd much rather show you his appreciation whenever you do.

he'd much rather keep you away from the side of him that (almost) everyone else gets, but that doesn't stop you from still doing things for him, and he definitely notices immediately.

he clocks anything out of place when it comes to you, especially when something gets done and he didn't ask for it. i.e:, cleaning his office, helping him inject his eye, etc.

i feel like he also yearns for quality time but on the very VERY down low.

being the man he is, he no doubt knew his demise was inevitable, especially due to all he's done. being with you made him feel normal, like before he turned into what he deems as unworthy of you

he often finds himself listening to music with you, music that makes him often reminisce about his past, trusting you with the immense vulnerability that comes from those memories

he often brings you down into the bar alone in the dead of night, sitting at the bar with you as both of you silently sipped on drinks, just relishing in each other's presence

in moments like those, he truly feels..normal. he feels like he's worthy of your love and devotion to him, the sheer intimacy of him being vulnerable more than enough confirmation of his love for you

[mbruben-stein]

Inuyasha SFW Alphabet: Sesshōmaru

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

While Sesshōmaru is not one for grand displays or declarations of love, he shows affection to his partner in subtle yet meaningful ways. A gentle caress of their face, a warm embrace when they are alone, or simply staying close by their side - these are how Sesshōmaru expresses his deep feelings without words. He is fiercely loyal and protective, always putting his lover's safety and happiness first. Sesshōmaru may appear cold and aloof to others, but in private moments he allows his softer, more caring side to emerge. A low whisper of "I love you", a rare smile reserved only for them, a tender kiss pressed to their forehead - through these small gestures, his partner can feel the profound love and devotion Sesshōmaru holds in his heart for them alone. He loves deeply and completely, even if he struggles to express it openly.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

Though aloof and stoic by nature, Sesshōmaru's friendship, once earned, would be unwaveringly loyal and protective. The friendship would likely start in an unexpected way - perhaps Sesshōmaru is begrudgingly impressed by a human's bravery, resourcefulness and lack of fear in his presence, much like his initial encounters with Rin. Over time, through shared experiences and challenges overcome together, Sesshōmaru would come to respect and value this friend's strength of character, though he would rarely express such sentiments aloud. He would become fiercely defensive of this friend, just as he is with Rin and Jaken, while still maintaining his pride and dignity. Sesshōmaru would offer counsel and aid to this friend when needed, but in his own indirect, oblique manner, and would appreciate a friend who understands and accepts his aristocratic demon nature. Any friend of Sesshōmaru's would have truly earned the daiyōkai's esteem and loyalty - a rare privilege, and a bond not easily broken.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Although he would never admit it, the stoic and aloof Sesshōmaru secretly enjoys cuddling with his partner in private moments. His cuddling style reflects his personality - protective yet not overly affectionate. He would wrap an arm around them and hold them close to his side, allowing them to rest their head on his shoulder or chest. Sesshōmaru is not one for overt displays of affection, but this simple intimate gesture, usually accompanied by companionable silence or perhaps a clawed hand gently stroking his partner's hair, speaks volumes about the deep feelings and bond between them that he prefers to keep shielded from the outside world. These quiet cuddles are his way of showing vulnerability and tenderness to the one who holds his guarded heart.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

While it may seem out of character at first, after falling deeply in love, Sesshōmaru would eventually wish to settle down with his partner. His cold exterior would melt away in private moments together. He would struggle with domestic tasks like cooking and cleaning, having never had to bother with such things before. But out of devotion to his beloved, Sesshōmaru would earnestly try his best, even if the results were often humorously clumsy. In time, with patient guidance from his partner, he would gain competence in household matters. Above all else, Sesshōmaru would be fiercely protective and loyal, using his immense power to create a safe haven for the one who finally taught him how to love.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

Sesshōmaru would likely end a relationship in a cold but dignified manner, in keeping with his aloof and prideful demeanor. He would seek out his partner privately and inform them bluntly that he no longer wished to continue their relationship. His reasons would be stated matter-of-factly, without unnecessary details or emotional displays. Sesshōmaru would make it clear that his decision was final and not open for debate. He would then take his leave, considering the matter resolved, and would prefer not to dwell on it or hash things out further. While he would avoid cruelty, he also would not go out of his way to spare his former partner's feelings or offer false consolation. In Sesshōmaru's mind, a clean break is best, his sense of honor is satisfied by being forthright, and he sees no need to drag things out or engage in messy human-like emotions. He would then continue on his path unencumbered.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Sesshōmaru, having grown emotionally through his encounters with Rin and others, would likely take commitment very seriously. As a proud and dignified demon, he would not enter into a relationship or marriage lightly. He would want to ensure that his partner is someone he deeply respects and trusts, and who understands and accepts his nature. Once committed, Sesshōmaru would be fiercely loyal and protective of his significant other. However, given his reserved personality, he would probably prefer to take his time before making such a significant decision as marriage. He would want to be certain of his feelings and his partner's compatibility. When he does choose to marry, it would be a profound and meaningful bond, not something rushed into on impulse. Sesshōmaru's commitment would be a serious, lifelong vow.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Despite his aloof and sometimes cold exterior, Sesshōmaru has a surprisingly gentle side that emerges around those he truly cares for, like a significant other. Physically, his touch would be exceedingly tender and careful, always mindful of his immense strength. He would brush a stray lock of hair from their face with the lightest caress, hold them close with strong arms that nevertheless cradle them like something infinitely precious and fragile. Emotionally, Sesshōmaru struggles more to express himself, but his actions speak volumes - the way he quietly listens to his partner's troubles, the silent support and protection he offers, the softness in his eyes that is reserved only for them. He may rarely say "I love you", but he shows it in a million tiny ways each day through his gentle attentiveness and devotion. With patience and understanding from his significant other, Sesshōmaru slowly learns to let his walls down, revealing a deep capacity for gentleness and love beneath his proud exterior.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Although Sesshōmaru is not typically one for physical displays of affection due to his reserved personality, he does enjoy the occasional hug from his s/o in private moments. These hugs are rare - perhaps once every few weeks when they are alone together. When he does hug his s/o, his embrace is gentle yet firm, enveloping them protectively in his arms and mokomoko. He savors the feeling of holding his loved one close to him, breathing in their scent. The hug lingers for a long, peaceful moment before he slowly releases them, gazing at them with soft golden eyes that reveal the depth of his love and devotion, even if he does not express it in words. For Sesshōmaru, a single heartfelt hug speaks volumes.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

Given Sesshōmaru's reserved and proud nature, it would likely take a very long time before he openly expressed his love verbally. Even as his compassion and care for others grew, especially Rin, he still struggled to show it outwardly. Sesshōmaru is not the type to freely express his emotions, so hearing an explicit "I love you" from him would be exceedingly rare. He would more likely show his love through his actions - protecting them fiercely, always being there when they need him, making sure they are safe and cared for. But he would probably only say the words after years of slowly learning to be more open and direct in expressing affection, and even then, only to someone he truly trusted and cared for deeply. It would be a momentous occasion if and when he finally said "I love you" out loud.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Sesshōmaru rarely shows jealousy outwardly due to his calm and aloof demeanor. However, if someone were to seriously vie for the affections and attention of his partner, subtle signs of jealousy would emerge. He would never admit to the emotion, but he would become more territorial and protective of his significant other. Sesshōmaru would find reasons to pull his partner away for private time together, using small gestures and looks to remind them of his devotion. He may make a show of his strength and power in front of the potential rival as an unspoken warning. While he trusts his partner, Sesshōmaru's pride would require him to clearly, if indirectly, demonstrate his claim on the relationship. Behind closed doors, he would need physical and verbal reassurance of his partner's loyalty and commitment to him alone. Sesshōmaru's jealousy would manifest in a desire to reinforce the bond with his significant other.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

Given Sesshōmaru's aloof and dignified demeanor, his kisses with a significant other would likely start off restrained and gentle. He would tenderly kiss their forehead, cheeks, and the back of their hand as a sign of his deep affection and respect for them. As he grows more comfortable expressing his feelings, his kisses would become warmer and more lingering, though still not overly passionate. He would enjoy kissing his love's temple and hair, cherishing their closeness. Sesshōmaru would probably most appreciate receiving soft kisses on his cheek, jaw, and the crescent moon mark on his forehead, as these would feel intimate and loving without being too forward. Over time, he would learn to convey his true devotion through his kisses, transforming his once cold exterior into a means of showing heartfelt adoration for his significant other.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Despite his initially cold demeanor, Sesshōmaru's interactions with Rin suggest he has a soft spot for children, especially those who have experienced hardship. While he may not openly display affection, he is protective of young ones in his care and provides for their needs. Sesshōmaru likely feels a sense of responsibility towards children, seeing them as innocent beings deserving of safety and support. As a father, he would be a stern but caring protector, patiently guiding his child and ensuring they grow up strong and capable. Though not prone to overt displays of love, his actions would demonstrate his deep devotion to his family.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Mornings with Sesshōmaru are calm and peaceful, matching his stoic and dignified demeanor. He rises early, often before the sun, and spends time in quiet contemplation as the world slowly awakens around him. You join him, sitting silently by his side and enjoying his steady, reassuring presence. Few words are exchanged, but none are needed - just being near him fills you with a sense of contentment and security. As the first rays of sunlight filter through the trees, Sesshōmaru rises gracefully to his feet, ready to begin the day's journey. His hand gently brushes your cheek, a small gesture of affection, before he departs to patrol the area and ensure no threats are near. You watch him go with a soft smile, treasuring these tranquil morning moments spent in the company of your stoic but deeply caring daiyōkai love.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Nights spent with Sesshōmaru are peaceful yet meaningful. After Rin has fallen asleep, you sit together in comfortable silence under the stars, enjoying the stillness and beauty of the night. Sesshōmaru is not one for idle chatter, but the two of you share a deep bond that does not always require words. On occasion, he will tell you stories of his past adventures or share rare insights into his thoughts, allowing you a precious glimpse beneath his typically stoic exterior. You treasure these quiet moments of connection and vulnerability. Sometimes you simply rest your head on his shoulder as he watches over you protectively, making you feel completely safe and at ease. Being with him fills you with a profound sense of belonging, partnership and unshakable trust. And so the night passes serenely in the calming presence of your demon lord, until you drift off to sleep by his side, enveloped in his warmth.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

Despite his usually calm and impassive demeanor, Sesshōmaru has a surprisingly short fuse when it comes to his mate. He is fiercely protective and easily riled by any perceived slight or threat to his beloved. The daiyōkai reacts with cold fury whenever enemies foolishly attempt to use his mate as leverage. Even minor annoyances, like his mate playfully teasing him, can sometimes provoke an irritated growl or flash of red in his eyes. However, Sesshōmaru's anger quickly cools in the face of his mate's soothing presence. A gentle touch or softly spoken word from them never fails to settle his temper. His mate is the only one who can pierce through his emotionless facade and stir the passionate heart that beats beneath. While Sesshōmaru may be slow to show affection, his feelings run deep and strong, especially his instinct to protect what is his. Woe betide any who dare to truly enrage the great Lord of the West when it comes to his most cherished person.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

Despite his aloof and stoic demeanor, Sesshōmaru would likely remember many details about his significant other, even small things mentioned in passing. His acute senses and keen mind allow him to pick up on subtle cues and commit them to memory. Though he may not outwardly express it, Sesshōmaru pays close attention when his partner speaks, making mental notes about their preferences, fears, and aspirations. However, he probably wouldn't dwell on trivial matters or things he deems unimportant. Sesshōmaru's memory would primarily focus on information that helps him understand, protect, and support his significant other, showcasing his hidden compassion. While he might occasionally forget minor details, his overall attentiveness demonstrates the depth of his feelings, even if he rarely verbalizes them.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

Sesshōmaru deeply cherishes a quiet moment shared with his s/o while watching the sunset together. As they sit side by side in comfortable silence, Sesshōmaru reflects on how this human has managed to touch his heart in ways he never thought possible. The simple act of being in their presence brings him a sense of contentment and peace that he has rarely known. He glances over at his s/o, admiring the way the fading light illuminates their features, and feels a swell of affection. In this moment, Sesshōmaru realizes that he has found someone who accepts and loves him unconditionally, just as he is. This tranquil, intimate moment of connection becomes one of Sesshōmaru's most treasured memories in their relationship, a testament to the profound impact his s/o has had on his life.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

Sesshōmaru is extremely protective of his s/o, treating their safety and wellbeing as his utmost priority, even above his own pride. Although he usually maintains an aloof demeanor, he would not hesitate to unleash his full demonic power to annihilate any threat or enemy that dared to harm his beloved. Sesshōmaru shows his protectiveness through actions more than words - always remaining vigilant of danger, swiftly dispatching foes before they can strike, and keeping his s/o close by his side. While his s/o may wish to protect him in return, Sesshōmaru would initially be resistant, believing it is his duty alone to serve as the protector in the relationship due to his immense strength. However, he would come to deeply appreciate gestures of loyalty, devotion and emotional support from his s/o. Knowing that he has a caring partner who will stand by him no matter what touches his guarded heart and makes him fall even deeper in love. Ultimately, they protect each other in their own ways.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

Although Sesshōmaru is not one for grand romantic gestures, he would quietly put thought and effort into special occasions with a partner he truly cared for. He would seek out meaningful gifts that reflected his understanding of his s/o, even if he wouldn't make a big fuss about presenting them. For anniversaries and dates, he would plan private outings to places of beauty and significance to them both. And in everyday life together, Sesshōmaru would show his love through small acts of attentiveness, protection and provision for his s/o's needs. Cooking meals, mending clothes, keeping their home in order - Sesshōmaru would do these things without complaint when he knew it would make his partner happy. His devotion would be understated yet unmistakable to one who knew him well. He might not say "I love you" often, but his actions would consistently send that message loud and clear to a cherished s/o.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

Despite Sesshōmaru's dignified demeanor, his s/o would likely have to put up with a few irksome habits stemming from his aloof personality and sense of superiority. He would frequently leave for long periods without much explanation, expecting his s/o to simply await his return. Sesshōmaru would also be quite dismissive of his s/o's human customs, seeing many of them as frivolous. He would hate to be kept waiting and would become impatient if his s/o took too long to get ready or complete tasks. Sesshōmaru would have little tolerance for weakness, so his s/o would need to project strength and capability, even when struggling. His pride would make apologies and admissions of fault rare. However, Sesshōmaru's s/o would learn that subtle gestures, like gifting them fine kimonos or rare demonic items, are his way of showing affection and making amends after an argument.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

While Sesshōmaru would never admit it out loud, he is quite particular about his looks. His long, silver hair is always immaculately kept, and his clothes are of the finest silk, pristine and free of any blemishes. He takes pride in his regal appearance, believing that it reflects his strength and status as a powerful demon lord. Although he may appear indifferent on the surface, Sesshōmaru secretly enjoys the admiration and envy his striking looks inspire in others. In quiet moments, he can sometimes be caught ensuring not a hair is out of place. After all, maintaining an impeccable appearance is just another way for Sesshōmaru to demonstrate his superiority over those around him.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Over time, Sesshōmaru's usually aloof and indifferent demeanor would soften around his s/o, just as it did with Rin. While still proud on the surface, he would grow to care for them deeply, feeling protective of their wellbeing. His s/o's steadfast presence would become an integral part of his life - a missing piece he hadn't realized he needed. When apart, he would feel a subtle but persistent tug in his heart, an incompleteness only remedied by reuniting with his s/o. Their bond would be unspoken but profound - his s/o filling his life with warmth, affection and understanding in a way no one else could. Without them by his side, the powerful daiyōkai would feel adrift, his victories and empire hollow. Only with his s/o would Sesshōmaru finally feel truly whole, two souls entwined as one.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

Sesshōmaru sat quietly beneath a blossoming cherry tree, his s/o resting peacefully with their head on his lap. He gazed down at their serene face, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from their forehead with his clawed hand, careful not to disturb their slumber. A soft breeze carried sweet floral notes and stirred the delicate pink petals above. In that tranquil moment, Sesshōmaru felt a profound sense of contentment wash over him, so different from the restless drive that had defined his life for centuries. His s/o had a way of quieting the turmoil within him, their mere presence a soothing balm to his once cold heart. He knew that he would face any threat, travel any distance, to keep them safe by his side. Sesshōmaru allowed himself the slightest smile, a rare expression of the deep affection and peace he felt in the comforting refuge of his love's company under the ephemeral beauty of spring's blooms. In a life of battle and strife, this tender intimacy was a precious gift.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Disrespect and impudence. As a powerful daiyōkai lord, Sesshōmaru demands respect and deference from those around him. He would not tolerate a partner who spoke to him rudely, defied him, mocked him, or did not show him proper respect.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

Given Sesshōmaru's aloof and dignified nature, he likely does not require much sleep as a powerful dog demon. However, when traveling with his human s/o, Sesshōmaru would make sure they had time to properly rest each night. He would sit up against a tree, remaining alert to protect them as they slept. Sesshōmaru would rarely sleep himself, but on occasion, he would allow his s/o to lay their head in his lap as he dozed lightly, one hand gently resting on their hair. These quiet, intimate moments at night were some of the only times Sesshōmaru would let his guard down, a sign of his deep trust in and affection for his s/o, even if he didn't express it openly. Despite his usual cold demeanor, he found a certain peaceful comfort in watching over them as they slept soundly under his protection.

[sukunas-wife]

the Dadkuna series is great!!! Sukuna isn’t my main character that I like in jjk but this series has me SAT and WAITING for the next upload! I’ve always wondered though what momkuna and dadkuna’s relationship dynamic is. We get that sort of in how they met but what about when their relationship is established? I get the sense that obviously dadkuna would quite literally do anything for her but what exactly goes through his mind when he thinks about her?

Oh? Guess whose back 😎🤧

Me- I’m sickly too 🤭 but! The blog is picking up 🥺 and I’ve been working on this for a good time so here you go 🤍🤍🤍

(Indentions are thoughts, things he didn’t actively say out loud 🥺🤍)

Lord Ryomen Sukuna, though emotionally stunted and constipated, loves his wife. Would level cities and kill men easily if she didn’t have such a strong hold in him.

But he’s a misogynist at heart to an extent. He wants you at home with his kids being his cute little wife that he knows he can always come home to. It was your overwhelming passion for helping women who couldn’t bear children that convinced him he could let you live your life, as long as he knew he had people there to look over you when he couldn’t.

He appreciates the fact that when he’s tired, covered in blood that’s not his own, and carrying the exhaustion of his war ridden day, there you are rushing to him when he enters his temple. Disregarding your fine silk robes and the blood partly way on his body. The way you cling to him, always so happy and relieved to see him come home.

The first time he came home after being gone for so long, he remembers how you cried and held on to him, your anguished filled cries when you cried about how you thought he was never coming back, how you were scared he’d left you alone. He remembers how his hands found your waits holding you a bit away, another hand coming to cup your face, thumb wiping away your tears when he looked at you with tired eyes, “It would take the militia of this land's greatest sorcerers to even consider preventing my way back to your embrace.” Your teary eyes softened before you buried your face in his chest again hugging him and clinging to him.

He longed for that feeling of your embrace whenever he would leave you behind, he could deny it but on his way home to you, his heart ached and longed to feel your embrace and hear your praises of how he had returned. You cried no more because you were filled with that confidence he would always return.

——————

He’s a traditional man with his one form of values, not once did he long for sexual pleasure or was he consumed with lust. Misery, pain and the screams of his victims fueled him and filled him with an immense pleasure no woman’s body could ever possibly offer him.

They were all the same, sultry, scandalous, attention seeking harlots, prostitutes and women. Thinking they could better their lives if they could slip into his bed. They were wrong, every woman who he allowed to enter his bed chamber under these pretences had walked in with starry eyes and ambition. Only to cry and scream for their life while he slowly dug his nails into their flesh tearing them all apart, slowly and agonisingly. That was until he saw you that one day, any girl of age would’ve started to present themselves to him in shy or subtle ways hoping to catch his eyes. There you were kneeling out of respect in his presence, scared you had offended your lord.

‘Oh? Is this little morsel afraid?’ Fear filled and humbling yourself before him. You couldn’t look at him, there wasn’t an ounce of “I want to sleep with this man.” And yet these feelings caused a sentiment in the depths of his chest, something stirred inside him, you head captured his interest (non sexual at this point). ‘Hmm?, this will be a fine pet to break.’

You were a phenomenon in the temple, one he wanted to study, to take into his clawed hands and mould, twist, stretch and push to the edge and then just over the point of breaking to see what would become of you. Yet, once he had you in hands reach, once you were close enough for him to graze your skin with his nails… he didn’t treat you like a common daisy or water Lilly, no he took you into his hands like a Lotus floating on the water's surface. Making elegant work and taking care of your delicate bloom. You would be his delicate lotus that no one else would ever take the joy in having.

——————

“My gratifying queen, My delicate lotus, My benevolent wife.” Words he doesn’t speak so freely, he whispers them against your skin whenever you’d sleep by his side.

Delicate words and honeyed names had never once crossed his mind in his existence. Yet here he was, allowing himself to indulge in the smallest amount of vulnerability with these words. The press of his feverish kisses against your neck and cheeks between every word.

‘My little beloved pet, so tired, sleeping away the wares of today. How could something so small and insignificant like you cause this shift in my existence hm?’

The back of his hand brushing hair away from your face, nails grazing the side of your face lightly, he held you in his embrace watching you. Two arms securely around you, one supporting his head, the other kept grazing your skin. You’d stir in your sleep when he shifted slightly away from you to lay on his back. You’d become so used to his body heat even on the hottest days you’d search him out half awake.

‘My little lotus,’ he closed the space between you, pulling you into his side again, ‘rest your weary head without worries of tomorrow, I’m here to hold you now.’

He wouldn’t admit it, he didn’t even know it at that moment, but he was absolutely smitten with you in ways he had yet to comprehend. But it showed in his subconscious movements. A hand on your lower back or waist guiding you, knowing you’re close and safe.

Bringing home little jewels and trinkets he’d usually never spare a second glance . That is until a stone sparkles in the light of his flames and he stops briefly to take a close look.

My queen would look Devine with these adorning her neck. These stones would make fine pieces for my wife.

It was a shock when he came home one night waking you when he sat on the bed. You sat up sleepily while he handed you a bag of precious stones and jewels telling you he had brought you a gift, a free hand of his brushing your hair back and bringing you closer by the back of your head so he could kiss your lips.

——————

It was your wedding, there you were standing beside him in the Ceremonial Robes. You stood on his right, his eyes looking down at you.

Hmm, What an enticing display, to have my little pet dressed up so exquisitely for all to see and admire.

Even more enticing to know soon you’ll be round with my child, what an ethereal sight you will be laid out in silk robes and swollen carrying my legacy

My delicate little lotus, my malevolent queen, my gratifying and honourable wife. Perhaps these thoughts never be spoken aloud with heavy sentiment. But I vow myself to you in this instant, that I will do all to assure our future, our health, our children and our endless lives.

I will assure your hand never be left cold nor alone as long as I can take it. nor will it ever be lifted in vain or to labour. Your stomach is never empty as I will assure you have the finest wine and a feast every night if it’s what your little human heart desires, your head will always have a place to rest even if it is only on my chest. Your nights will never be cold, your days will never be short, your loneliness will exist no longer, and your heart will be mine, and mine will be yours.

It wasn’t all he told himself, but it was in the moment you felt a warm sensation against your skin, on your chest below the centre of your collar bone but above your breast was the same mark you’d seen on his tongue very few times.

Ryomen Sukuna DID NOT enjoy the thought of staining your teeth black, instead he took your hand, as if vowing and brains you, the ring finger of your left hand, the base faded to a black band, above it a snark mark matching your chest and another thin black bank, just below your nail was another black band. That’s how your little husband decided to present you as his.

Tag List: @sad-darksoul @satorisgirl @bontensbabygirl @lupita97lm @queen-luna-007 @venus-seeks

@bofadeezs

@sakuxxi @mercymccann @certainduckanchor @najiiix @bakugou-katsukis-wife @amitiel-truth @souyasplushie @mylovelessnightmare @ynjimenez @dolliira

Broken :( @simpforyoubitch @domainofmarie @ilovemybabies378 @anyaswlrd @cyder-puff

[genericpuff]

Are there any characters from LO that you actually like/don’t mind

I have a lot more appreciation for Minthe now with all the hindsight that Hades and Persephone are often way worse than she is. She still had a lot of issues on her own end that she didn't deal with well, and while I would have liked to see her actually develop properly beyond her struggles both internal and with Hades, I think the best thing we could have asked for was Minthe being written out of the story the way she was. At least then Rachel couldn't continue to use her as a punching bag (she just tagged in Leuce for that, sigh)

Helios is great, zero issue with him. This scene is a lot funnier and more relatable to read in hindsight:

like ofc Helios is gonna rat on her, he's the fucking sun who's been around for thousands of years, why would he put any more of his limited freedom on the line for macaroni art LMAO (and yes, Rachel herself confirmed that Persephone made macaroni art cards for Helios, it's like... yeah okay it's cute but Persephone and Demeter still hid a crime from Zeus, the sentimental value of the birthday cards have no bearing on that LOL)

Thanatos is also in the camp of "characters I appreciate more in hindsight and wish got better character development". Adding in the 'twist' that he was Hades' adoptive son after we just spent nearly two seasons watching Hades treat him like just a lowly employee who didn't deserve his respect was certainly... a choice. And I don't think I should have to explain why it was a very very BAD one LOL

Hephaestus is also great, I know he's an extremely minor character whose only real role was to delete the blackmail photos from Apollo's phone but, like. look at him???

amazing. precious. sweet boy. and it has absolutely nothing to do with my absent older brother issues why would you say that- (｡•́︿•̀｡) that said, there are still flaws in his design (his prosthetics especially because he's constantly wearing running blades for every occasion which I feel like Rachel only chose because they "looked cool" and were "easier to draw" but like. his poor hips and back, that's gotta be uncomfortable 😭) but even just his face on its own is ironically one of the most unique character designs across the entire cast, not for any sort of outstanding or creative reasons, you just can't possibly mistake or color swap him with anyone else LMAO and though I can't feasibly give credit to Rachel for writing a neurodivergent character - because I have no clue if that was her intention here, afaik she's never really talked about it - I can wholly relate to him being the introverted computer guy who just wants to be left alone with his work and his airpods, like that's literally just me LOL

And of course nothing Rachel could ever do would make me hate Demeter, I think it's so ironic and tone deaf that Rachel claimed she "didn't get" why Demeter was so hated by the fans and didn't "agree" with the comparisons to Mother Gothel, but like... Rachel literally wrote her that way. And while she did "resolve" it, it wasn't with any actual empathy towards Demeter's own side of things, it was just bandaids on top of bandaids and then going "yep! She's all better now! That's character development!" Out of all the characters who deserved better, she was the one who deserved the most 😔💓

[tragicvampireromanceisland]

VILLAINPOSTING !!! because i don't talk about them nearly enough.

ichigo was first recruited by the syndicate as blindside a while ago...by adelie, of all people, surprisingly. they go (kind of) way back! absolutely no one knows what spurred this rare burst of motivation in her...but he quickly proved to be an excellent asset to syndicate operations, both in the field fighting heroes and as...a diplomat on the inside. well, sort of. the poor guy's kind of the glue holding the others together. ace can't stand adelie, viewing her as a nepo baby with no drive. and if adelie had the energy to be a hater...the sentiments would be likewise. ace feels too much. it annoys her. plus, he's a newcomer who used to be a hero?! suspicious! doesn't help that adelie does also have the energy to mess with him on occasion, though. however, both of them share a deep appreciation for ichigo...well, maybe something a bit more on ace's part. strange and offputting villain workplace yaoi?! say it ain't so.....

ALSO, some fun little sheets i filled out with the villains and their respective hero foils!! these are all based off initial dynamics, soooo. subject to change 😏 they are not immune to Character Development. would love to do the other villain hero combos, maybe later...original template can be found here!

[charrfie]

no offence but the fact that normies found clinical trial is my 13th reason

Please forgive me anonymous, your use of the word "normies" made me giggle quite a bit..... but rest assured I understand your sentiment and I most definitely agree with it (even if I wish you had been a little nicer about it, lol). I have a lot of issues with the way clinical trial has been approached by a vast majority of fans, honestly. It's hard to know what to start with even. But I do feel that at least part of the reason people have had such a hard time understanding the source material is due to popular creators covering the game and exposing it to a general audience that otherwise would not engage with the game. Not to say I find said creators themselves at fault for this, since it's partly the reason I discovered it as well. It is a double edged sword, for sure. And there are a lot of people who DO understand it! Excellently, at that! This just sometimes seems difficult to appreciate if you- like me- check the tags every morning/night like the newspaper and come across multiple posts in a row either misinterpreting characters personalities, intentions, or.... you know. A million other things. Expected for a game with layers of nuance intertwined with each story beat, but still. For those that do understand, I appreciate you haha

One thing that I believe a lot of people don't understand when analyzing the game is that..... it's not exactly meant to be. Pretty? I guess? And that's part of the reason I connected with it as much as I did. In a majority of the media I've come across in my lifetime that has to do with people who aren't "good" at being people (for lack of a better term), never have I seen something so shamelessly depict the way isolation and mental illness make an impact on every single little aspect of someone's life. There is no self-censoring, no cushioning of the blows, nothing. And its fucking genius!!!!!!! I have seen so many arguments about angel's reactions to certain things being outlandishly stupid, lee's actions making him undeserving of his true ending's fate, etc, but I couldn't disagree more!!!!!!! People are weird. Weirder, when they are lonely and often taken advantage of. And that is SUCH a core part of what clinical trial is all about. The game makes you sit down and swallow the fact that lee is not an innately evil person without feeling the need to make his actions more palatable. Without making angel need to excuse it. Clinical trial has such respect for both parties and their feelings/experiences/autonomy, while not needing to say "this is bad" or "this is good" about anything. And especially when handling such a delicate topic. It's fucking genius. And I could talk about it for forever. But before engaging at all with ct, people HAVE to acknowledge this shit. That maybe good people can do bad, bad things, and that maybe "good" and "bad" aren't concepts applicable at all sometimes. Maybe sometimes, people are just people.

This sums up my thoughts on the general game here well enough for now (especially given how short of an ask it was haha), but before I conclude this post I do have to speak on how much the common perception of angel's identity bothers me. Especially considering how much of a core element of the story it is; I would be remiss not to bring it up at least once. Please note that I very intentionally use the word "identity" here rather than "gender" because that's only a singular element of who they are as a character. I'm talking about everything: their identity as someone that's mentally ill, as someone who's physically ill, as someone nonhuman, and as a nonbinary individual. Even still, I leave certain facets of their identity out that I can't possibly cover in the scope of this ask right now!!!! But bear with me in what I do feel equipped to talk ahout currently.

It is- without hyperbole- IMPOSSIBLE to understand angel without taking into account all the external and internal factors impacting who they are, what they think, and what decisions they make. IMPOSSIBLE. You, the person reading this right now, are an individual with YEARS AND YEARS of experiences, memories, and interests. The way your brain works, how you label (or don't label) yourself, how you think and do things, how you even talk... ALL of this is a culmination of the people you have known and the experiences you've lived through. That is a beautiful thing. A gift. Would it not be ridiculous of someone to claim that all of that is entirely irrelevant in the way you live your life? You might think that asking you to understand everything intricacy of a character before engaging with the material they're from is asking too much, but I disagree!! Clinical trial is about complicated people and complicated relationships that have been molded by their surroundings. I do not feel that asking that be acknowledged is a bad thing. Do your reading homework to prepare for the quiz, essentially.

All this is to say that I wish- just once- people would consider why angel chooses to act the way they do. I wish I could see even one piece of art of angel having to get up slowly from seated positions or wearing compression stockings all the time lest their orthostatic hypotension gets the best of them. I wish the shit that messed with their every action in the game had more of an impact in the fan media I see. I wish people might stop addressing them as human at all, because when angel says that they feel inner peace thinking of existing as an animal, that's not symbolism, that's not metaphor, that's truth. I wish every other post I see of them wouldn't address them as a girl or a boy. I wish nonbinary people stopped getting fucking erased. I get wanting to project. I get wanting to see yourself reflected in fiction. Trans representation is much more rare than cis rep, but I promise you there are infinitely more binary/binary-leaning trans characters for you to project onto than the things that I and others have. I wish people would GET who angel was before bothering to have anything to say about them.

I think angel and lee are some of the most authentic and transparent real life people I have ever seen in fiction. It is a crime they are difficult to be recognized as that.

I fear that I sound sort of pretentious talking about the game in such a manner as this but....... alas. I am allowed to be a little bit pretentious about media that speaks to me on such a level, I suppose. Please don't think I mean to diminish the efforts of those who DO get it. All of your work is fantastic. At the end of the day, this is just the internet. You are allowed to have fun on it. I am in no position to stop you. I even hope that you might find the joy you seek in doing so! But if I might ask you to consider the story and characters with a bit more depth.... I would very much appreciate the effort :^]

I hope that for both your sake and mine, anonymous, that people will start engaging with clinical trial in a better, more earnest way soon! Thank you for your ask~ peace and love

[lxmelle]

Gojo’s letters & the implied parting message (Part 2)

I came across a view on Twitter (now X) that was interesting that I probably would have never thought of myself. While I may not agree with it 100% on its own, I can totally see the value in it and I wanted to share it here, seeing as how others may appreciate the perspective too. I’ve added my own thoughts which you’re welcome to read… Then you can make up your own mind about your personal interpretation 😊

So the sentiment is as follows:

At the end of HI, past-Gojo casually went up to Megumi to tell him that he killed his father, showing us that he is a little tactless. But, upon being told what Megumi wanted, he respected that Megumi didn’t want to know and accepted this for 10 years.

Despite that; however, we can infer from things we have been shown that he has always wanted Megumi to know. He was probably waiting for a good time. (As we know, Gojo doesn’t really impose his view onto others.)

Knowing there had to be a time where this message was delivered, he prepped the letter that would only be delivered if he (Gojo) died.

And what better timing & purpose, if it could help Megumi absolve any guilt he might have over (his body) killing Gojo? (Because him being dead meant Megumi likely killed him, thanks to Sukuna.)

According to the person whose Twt I read, they felt that Megumi’s laughing reaction was due to Gojo’s uncharacteristic consideration for him.

In other words, he was relaying it after he died to Megumi as a way to say: You got this cuz I’m dead. “And if you think your father is out there somewhere, he isn’t. It was me who killed him. Soz!” So don’t feel guilty.

Hm. Well, this was kind of echoed in at least another tweet and there were a few who made it out as if this was a fitting interpretation.

I also gathered from my last post on this subject, that Megumi was chuckling out of fondness, like “Geez, that’s so typical of you, sensei.”

But I do personally think it’s important to underline the fact that Gojo has always put in the effort to understand people even if he struggled to show it, or showed it clumsily. (Just like, “have you had too much somen?” - as said to Geto, back in the day.) So maybe it seemed uncharacteristic to Megumi, but I hope as a reader, we understand that Gojo had his own ways of being kind.

After all who can blame him if he didn’t quite fully understand what it meant to have blood family, being separated from his own? Born as an anomaly - a mutant amongst mutants. Who felt like others (flowers) couldn’t never comprehend a creature — and who could, unless they were bestowed with some monstrous skill themselves? (Like Geto, and Gojo had hoped, Sukuna... but the latter clung onto his stubborn self-protective belief of not needing “love” (compassion) until the very end, choosing to die instead of taking Yuji’s hand - another post on this another time).

And Gojo, after having been told last words from Toji and Geto about the importance of family, he may have gathered that it was better for Nobara and Megumi to know, than to have it concealed from them. Hence, the letters.

Know your family. Then decide who your family really is.

My own thoughts about the theory are as such: Gojo may have really wanted to tell Megumi that it was he who killed his father, because this was the only person he killed without a reason. (…that we know of: Gojo was canonically shown to have only killed two humans - Toji & Geto).

After Geto left, the parting message was: “don’t kill anyone other than me” - in other words, don’t do what I did, because that will make you lonely. If you need to kill, kill if there is a clear purpose or meaning in it.

This was his last lesson delivered to Gojo. We know his parting phrase was imbued with meaning due to everything we saw in HI and the draft words that Gege released from chapter (78) - important enough to make it to the exhibition and Gojo’s JUMP GIGA Character Book.

Geto played a significant role in him smartening up, how to connect with others, how to empathise with people, to think about what his responsibilities were as someone with strength.

So Gojo telling Megumi this was almost as if to say: you can stop wondering about him now; you weren’t left behind. I killed your father. You don’t have to feel responsible for it because there was meaning in it too.

In words Gojo might use: I killed him, you killed me. We’re even!

I guess it’s not only because Megumi couldn’t help it being Sukuna’s vessel. But also that he avenged his father’s death. All of Megumi’s thoughts relating to his father and Tsumiki as above: Retribution, karma, discipline… fairness and Megumi deserved happiness too.

And he chose to live again, starting by living for Yuji. A new purpose… he didn’t want Yuji to be lonely.

A loneliness I think he knew all too well.

He can add on more family after that. Nobara. Etc.

That’s it I guess. Thoughts?

[thatanimewriter]

SLAVE TO THE BLADE.

➳ request: Team Rwby with a male S/O who is in a Kenpachi situation, he's a swordsman(samurai), mentally shackled himself from going all out because of how strong he is, wears an eyepatch to keep most of his aura from leaking out, loves to fight, wishes to fight a worthy opponent, bonus: Jaune studies under him as a student, please and thank you

➳ character/s: ruby rose, weiss schnee, blake belladonna, yang xiao long

➳ warnings: mentions of fighting, mention of food (weiss)

➳ notes: imma be real, i haven't gotten past the first few episodes of bleach since i was like, 12, so this description is what i'm going off of-

𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 / 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭  / 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 / 𝐰𝐢𝐩 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

── 𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐘 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄.

she probably met you through jaune lets' be real, cause dude loves to ramble about stuff n he's probably talked about you a few times

wanted to fight you so bad the first time she met you, but you wanted to see if she was worthy first so you don't waste time

has asked about the eyepatch before but never really got a clear answer, it was quite vague cause you didn't wanna get into it

didn't beat you in a fight, but she lasted longer than you thought she would, so you started being friends and eventually dating

if she ever needs scary dog privileges, you're the go to, just have your resting face and the full get up and you're set

grumpy x sunshine dynamic for sure, you're so cool and intimidating n then she's there

minus aura points for the combination, but maybe it could be bonus, cause you're just so confusing as to how this happened

probably a top tier combat duo though, y'all crazy on the battlefield for real

she appreciates all the silent ways you show you love her like covering the table corner when she bends down

paying attention to small things like that thing she mentioned months ago n suddenly VOILA, it's here

she returns the sentiments by doing some more grand gestures but she'll tone it down if you ask

── 𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐄𝐄.

girl probably found you weird as hell at the start, but got over it quickly considering the world you live in-

she can appreciate an aesthetic though, she likes the samurai thing but confused by the eyepatch

japanese pirate??? what's going on with you???

the absolute TRAINING REGIME you put her through when you start dating is insane, but winter probably approves to a degree

push the limits, especially considering weiss' semblance with glyphs and stuff

you probably also improve a bit if you experiment with dust in combat

stubborn meets stubborn though, strange arguments will arise for certain situations

like whether you can like, get jaune to go away for a moment because she wants time with you but he's training under you-

or where to eat if she wants one thing and you want another, but eventually you get what you want respectively n come back n share

quality time king, that's what you are in this relationship

she will try on your eyepatch at least once because she's curious, but she got very embarrassed when you caught her

── 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀.

she thought you were a bit unrefined just for how much you want to fight people all the time

but she did want to try you out to see if she was a worthy opponent, so she fought you once

n that's how the 'i hate you' to lovers pipeline began for her-

training sessions are nice for you both, she enjoys being pushed further than usual but she's a lil bitter you have to go easy on her

will just listen very knowingly when jaune rambles about a training session with you

it's probably a moment of bonding for them tbh, they both relate to how difficult it is to fight you

a lot of quality time again, you might read a book that the other recommended and just read in silence together

you do a lot of stuff in silence together because it's just nice to hang and relax

people definitely understand how you guys got into a relationship, you vibe match, except you're just a bit more energetic than her

you also have somewhat similar insecurities about harming people you care about, so there's another level of understanding between you

don't tell anyone, but she likes a scratch behind her cat ears and she purrs, which you found out by accident-

── 𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈𝐀𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆.

you met because she picked a fight with you ._.

you're both just as eager to fight people, so it was only a matter of time before she came and snuffed you out

you think she's very reckless, but you can teach her some tactics in the get-to-know-you phase

that was probably how she got to know you: the winner of each fight got to ask any question they wanted

was very mad when you admitted to letting her win a couple times because you're just so powerful

people avoid you in the halls because they don't wanna do a 1v2 against you guys

she's tried on your gear at least once, n tried to get you to wear hers but that was a hard no from you

her abilities and endurance has definitely improved because of you, but she just wants to be the better pupil vs jaune-

there's an unspoken competition between them that they think you don't know about but you do

you say jaune is better for lols and because you think her lil frowny face is cute

also because you feel a bit bad for jaune-

[jesncin]

hiiii it's the anon you replied to with the taonui hugging a shark doodle (which is absolutely adorable btw) (also I know there's no proof of my identity but I doubt anyone is claiming to be me anyway).

I was not at all kidding when I said your work motivated me to read comics, even the notoriously badly written ones, because I think it's important to actually know the original material a fandom is based around.

I'm not new to the dc fandom space but I haven't had too much of an opportunity in my free time to actually engage with the comics as source material, only really tv shows and movies. A lot of what I know comes from other peoples discussion of comics as well as further interpretations of the characters in fanworks. A lot of what I see in the DC fandom is this sentiment to "disregard canon", which i think is fair if you take that to mean how comics contradict each other all the time, and there's a certain canon to each person based on what runs you actually enjoy the writing and character interpretations. However, what I actually see most of the time in fandom is the characters being put into boxes based on what they get known for within the fandom, and thus they become one dimensional comedy figures more often then not. They get assigned a couple of traits and then those traits are explored sometimes, but sometimes those traits don't even come from the comics but fandom wide hallucinations.

Completely opposite to that, is the way in which you researched and wrote your taonui mun and nanaue comic. Although you alter a lot of the original backstory and presentations of the characters from the Superboy comics, it's done with understanding of the source material, before you reconstructed it into something new. You analysed all the parts of both characters, how as characters they could be taken in interesting directions, as well as understood why they were written the way they were in the first place (blegh racist misogynist white men) and combined that knowledge into something new with more respectful cultural portrayals than they originally had. That's what motivated me to read more comics. Not the knowledge that the source material can be shittly written, or that I was disillusioned by your portrayal of characters, but by understanding the effect and critical analysis it took you to grow these characters from the potential they had in their original appearances. Better source material understanding often leads to more interesting interpretations and ideas for characters, because you have to know the rules from canon in order to break them in new and interesting ways. And your work is an absolute masterclass at this concept.

Sorry for the essay in your inbox, I just really enjoyed your comic and will def be looking into more of your art bc it's absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for the luck for seeking out more comics, I definitely need it.

You're good, I take the many anons' self-claims word for it :3c

I get that! Even though I think it's totally fair game to call yourself a fan of these characters when you primarily interact with them through adaptation, it's understandable to want to seek out more of them through their source material. Part of what makes cape media endearing to me is having insight into the transformative process when something gets adapted a bunch.

While I was hyped for my copies of Superman Smashes the Klan to arrive, I listened to the original Clan of the Fiery Cross radio show arc so I could see what Gene Yang was revitalizing in his take. And it was SO rewarding to know the broader context! The things that stayed, the things that were flipped and expanded upon, it's a whole other layer of appreciation.

When people say things like "oh I see you took the quirky bit trait (from the Superman movies) that Lois Lane can't spell and actually expanded it into something that explores her character". It's the kind of awareness of source material + how I changed it that I love! I get a lot less of that when I tackle niche characters -and it's fine since I make my comics accessible regardless of whether people get the references- but when people seek out that source material to better understand my adaptation, that's just so kind! It's an intellectual curiosity that's very healthy and I praise it (regardless of the source material's quality)!

I very much get the fandom tendency to flanderize and mistake fanon for canon. I'm fascinated by how fandom culture creates this collective conscious of rules + correct interpretations that ironically re-create the hierarchy of authorial intent. Because so much of the time when I enter a character tag on here and see discussion on these characters as they exist in canon, I'm thinking "some of y'all need a refresher on the source material, because [x thing you got from fanon] wasn't canonically thing." Being surrounded by fanon constantly can make people lose sight of the material.

Anyway thank you! As I've said before, I revisit canon to to be informed in my retelling, not to be loyal to it. I learn the source material and the context from which it's made before I break it and appropriate it. It's the most fun kind of research homework I could ask for haha.

[604to647]

Code name: Hephaestus

3.2K / Marcus Pike x fem!reader

Summary: Marcus requests a change to his FBI Agent code name.

Warnings: None! Mention of cheating (obviously not Marcus! By Teresa Lisbon, that rat 😒).

A/N: This is written for Round 2 of beskarandblasters's Pedro Pantheon challenge - I sort of misinterpreted the challenge, and instead of making Marcus an actual god, I envisioned a more allegorical story? I hope it still works! I've always found the myth of Hephaestus to be rather tragic, but learned recently (to my delight) that in some renditions he goes on to have a happy second marriage with Kharis (sometimes called Aglaea), so that's how this story was born. The parallels I draw aren't terribly subtle (in fact, you could accuse me of sort of hitting you over the head with them 😅) but in our story, Lisbon is the bare equivalent of Aphrodite (just go with it 😂) and Jane is Ares; takes place in a Mentalist AU where Marcus doesn't go to DC. This is my first time writing Marcus so please be gentle (I'm nervous about this one!); endless thanks to @morallyinept for her character files which helped me get a better handle on our dear Agent Pike (I think!) Thank you for reading!

Dividers by @saradika-graphics / please see @clawdee's pinned post for the other Pedro Pantheon works.

Today is the day.  The day Marcus Pike’s approved request to change his FBI Agent code name goes live.  You’re exceptionally proud of him.

It’s incredibly rare for agents to ask for, never mind actually change their sanctioned code names; the amount of paperwork and pain in the ass database updates required were enough to have most requests denied, never mind that most agents had sentimental attachments to their top-secret monikers.  If anything, it only ever happened if circumstance necessitated – say a higher-ranking officer transferred in and used the same code name in their previous office.  No one ever asks to change just because.  Especially not to a name that had been whispered around the office for the better part of three years and made said agent the butt of a cruel joke.

Hephaestus.

Whispered in the hallways and meeting rooms of the Austin FBI building whenever his back was turned, Marcus good-humouredly admitted that there was some cleverness to it.  And though there was no real malice behind the nickname, it was inescapably insulting.

You had hated it enough for the both you. 

When you took up the job as the Austin office’s head of Public Relations, Marcus had been one of the first agents to welcome you and make you feel like your contributions and hard work were appreciated.  From your previous time in the private sector, you know that a lot of people in public service think of PR as window dressing, just frivolous adornment, but Marcus told you that he found your job to be terribly important.

“How can we protect the public if the public doesn’t trust us?  You make our jobs look inspiring and glorify our hard work so that we can do it another day.”  You’d never heard of your job being spoken about so poetically.  You would come to learn that you weren’t the only one who marveled at Marcus’ ability to look at things from an unique, often beautiful, perspective.

His valued role in the FBI’s Art Squad was never up for debate – no one else could unravel intricate mysteries and solve cases that required expertise and appreciation for the artistry of old and new creative masters the way Marcus did.  His analytical mind and problem-solving prowess when it came to art crimes were second to none in the Austin office, and some might say the whole of the FBI.  No, respect wasn’t an issue for Agent Pike.

However, as you would learn from one of your colleagues over a casual cup of coffee in the breakroom, even if they respected the hell out of him, the parallels between Marcus and his unofficial handle were too apparent for even the most high-browed FBI agents to ignore.

“I see you’ve met Hephaestus.  One of our best.”

“Hephaestus?” you muse out loud.  The God of Fire and Volcanoes?  That didn’t seem to make sense to you… but hang on, if you recalled your Greek mythology correctly, Hephaestus was also the patron god of artisans, craftsman, metallurgy, sculpture.  In your estimation, that aligned a bit more with the handsome Art Squad agent.  Your co-worker nods at your assessment but encourages you with a knowing expression for you to keep going.

An unbelievable thought crosses your mind, “Omigod, it’s not because of the limp, is it?”

The circumstances were well known around the office, but it had been Marcus himself who told you about the injury he sustained while on a case that effectively removed him from active fieldwork two and a half years ago.  He had given an overzealous art thief chase, and when the perp had been caught, they made one last ditch attempt to waylay the famous Agent Pike… with a bullet.  Though otherwise well recovered, the injury had left Marcus with a limp which permanently assigned him to desk duty.  When Marcus told you the story, it had been without any bitterness, but with an air of graceful acceptance, acknowledging his injury as a “risk that comes with the work.”

You couldn’t help but admire his steadfast commitment to the job and even-keeled approach to obstacles most people might deem to be insurmountable.

And besides, as you understood it, being taken out of active fieldwork has done nothing to slow down Marcus’ career.  He took his reprieve from field work and used it as an opportunity to emulate some of the great artists he had spend his life admiring by becoming something of a creator and maker himself.  Seeing a need for technology to become better integrated into the Art Squad’s investigative methods, Marcus began working closely with the FBI’s Tech division to develop new and innovative technological tools to fight art crimes; he became the architect behind celebrated programs and gadgets that aided in the detection of high-quality forgeries, and sophisticated applications that simplified the digital forensics in smuggling schemes.  He was something of an in-house hero – you had seen some of these tools at work, and the details in these designs were sometimes as beautiful as the traditional art hung in museums.

The trajectory of Agent Marcus Pike’s career was undoubtedly on the rise.  But even though no one, not even Marcus, viewed his limp as an impediment, you still thought the comparison to what the Greeks had considered Hephaestus’ deformity to be in bad taste.

But it was worse than you thought.  It wasn’t just because of the limp. 

Your eyes widen in horror and your heart clenches painfully for Marcus when your co-worker tells you about Lisbon and Jane. 

Most of what you knew about Marcus’ marriage to Agent Teresa Lisbon you learned from your friends at the office.  That he had given up his promotion to the D.C. office and stayed in Austin at her request (or as you saw it, a condition) before agreeing to marry him three years ago.  Teresa was partnered with a civilian consultant, Patrick Jane, with whom she previously had a close working relationship in California.  It was the Austin office’s worst kept secret that their "working relationship" had evolved into a romantic and sexual one… even as she remained Marcus’ wife.  The affair has been going on for the better part of two years, with everyone, including Marcus, privy to the fact that his wife and the mentalist were more than just partners in the field.

You’re incensed and indignant on your friend’s behalf.

As a rule, you don’t judge what goes on in other people’s relationships – it’s none of your business and you know from experience that no one ever truly knows what goes on between two people behind closed doors.  But this isn’t behind closed doors.  It’s at work.

It’s one thing to have an affair.  But it’s really another to flaunt your boyfriend in your husband’s face.  And it’s an entirely separate matter to do it at the work place you and your paramour share with your spouse.  You find yourself grinding your teeth and tapping violently at your keyboard whenever you draw up notices about the cases that Lisbon and Jane work.  You might very well even have refused to do it, except that in most cases, their success could be partially credited to Marcus. 

Because while Teresa did not find her husband worthy of being loyal to, she did deem his superior intellect worthy of helping her when she couldn’t quite puzzle out her own casework, or she found it advantageous to have an in with the new golden boy of the Tech division.  You couldn’t minimize Lisbon and Jane’s work without minimizing Marcus’ contributions as well.  Besides, it would be unprofessional to let your personal feelings bias your work, no matter how justified you felt it might be.

Even if you didn’t find her treatment of her husband to be reprehensible, you had a hard time connecting with Teresa.  While you do consider her to be a good agent, she was vain, smug and in your opinion, entirely too caught up in the appearance and perceived clout of being partners with the celebrity “Mentalist” consultant: Patrick Jane.  Jane, you couldn’t stand at all – quite frankly, his impulsive and unpredictable behaviour and frequently caviller attitude towards proper police procedure made him a risky asset.  You didn’t think it did the FBI any favours to glorify his exploits and for your part, you try not to do so.

While you quietly seethed on his behalf, Marcus remained unflappable, professional and generous when it came to all the reasons he had been bestowed his not-so-secret nickname.  It struck you as slightly odd that a man as kind-hearted and considerate as Marcus could let such insult and cruelty roll off his own back when he most certainly would not be tolerant of it being inflicted on others.  That’s one thing you learn about Marcus during the time you spend with him, be it in the Tech basement learning about all the new innovations you might have to announce, or the lunches and breaks you share – he is giving.  Benevolent even.  Bestowing on others the kindness that he’s not always shown.  He puts the good of others, the whole, ahead of himself.  It’s the whole reason he went into law enforcement. 

Not without some effort, you forbid yourself from developing and nursing a crush on your married friend.  His honour wouldn’t allow it, you’re sure, and in truth, neither does your own dignity; instead you nurture a friendship that you come to value highly with a man whose company you enjoy very much.

Once, you told Marcus that you thought he had the soul of an artist.  He had scoffed adorably at this, but listened appreciatively as you explained your assessment.  Yes, Marcus has a great appreciation for beautiful things and fine art, but he seemed to see beyond the piece itself – feeling the conviction and emotion behind every brush stroke, chiseling tap of stone, hammering of soften metal and listened to what they had to say rather than what his eyes told him.  He appreciated art for the artist, and you thought only another artist could be capable of that.

And what of his new passion for his work in Tech?  Sure, Marcus wasn’t literally chasing down bad guys in the streets anymore, but he was still pursuing them with vigor, now to the dark corners of the internet.  What was an artist but someone who reworked and shaped what was familiar in order to shine a new light on them?  Didn’t artists breathe new life and purpose into what others might see as irrelevant once its obvious usage was no longer?

And his vibrant outlook went beyond his work.  You talk animatedly over your shared lunch takeout, the one that Marcus picked up from a local Moroccan restaurant that he’s always wanted to try but had no one to try with.  “Take this food, for example,” you say. “It’s something new and maybe you won’t like it, but you’ll try!  And when you do, it won’t just be for the flavour on your tongue, but you’ll taste the culture and history behind these dishes.  You’re going to enjoy the culinary experience no matter what; even if you’re not guaranteed to like everything.”

And you know he’ll do it again!  Try another cuisine or restaurant he hasn’t before, or see a play or movie he’s never heard of!  Because artists take risks!  Even ones with low stakes because that’s what life is for.  You tell Marcus that the friend you see before you is dynamic and has the gift of seeing the potential in things (and people) where others don’t.  He takes leaps of faith and reveres life.

Marcus tells you that you might actually be the poet that you usually accuse him of being.  And though he thinks you make him out to be grander than he is (you are in PR after all!), he still thinks about your words a lot.  He supposes that perhaps he's always been an artist of sorts.

An artist creates, builds, molds – and Marcus has always firmly believed in making the best of what one is given; to see and encourage as much beauty in something as possible.  It was an artist’s gift to translate the mundane into the extraordinary, and even if he wasn’t necessarily successful, the artist wasn’t supposed to want more than or try and change what fate has handed him.  Or so Marcus had thought.

Before he met you.

Something about you and your friendship made Marcus think perhaps he didn’t have to make beautiful the cards that he had been dealt.  That it was okay to admit if something wasn’t right and not try to mold or craft it into something just this side of tolerable.  It was okay to want better, to strive for something that was actually good.  Lovely. 

Little by little over the past year, Marcus has been taking his life, his pride back.  And it fueled his desire to reclaim this name he had been mockingly bestowed and reclaim its godlike power as his own.

Yes, he’s ready to proclaim loud and proud: Marcus Pike is Hephaestus.

Marcus Pike is a lover of the arts.  An admirer of those of his fellow man who choose to create and construct, artisans and craftsmen who spin and cast stories and convey moments of deep and relatable emotion using earthly materials, metal, stone, clay, canvas, and accordingly, live on far beyond their own years.

Whose brilliant mind combines the industrious and the creative, leading the advancement of innovative technology and its implementation within the ever-evolving discipline of crime fighting.

He might never be fit for active field work the way he once was, but a renewed commitment to physio has made him stronger and leaner than he’s ever been.  He wields weights in the gym like a blacksmith might a hammer, forging muscle and strength on the anvil of his own flesh.  Far from caring about physical appearances, he sculpts his body into something hard and powerful for the calm it brings his mind, but there is no doubt about it: Marcus Pike is a physical specimen to behold.  Limp or no limp. 

And yes, Marcus Pike married a woman who did not love him and who did not deserve him.  She cheated on him with someone she thought was her equal, all the while overlooking and dismissing the quiet power and steadfast devotion of her husband.  And Marcus accepted this insult for a long time, because he thought he had to make something beautiful that wasn’t, that he could love her enough for the both of them.  But he’s come to realize that he did it mainly because she made him feel like that was all he was worthy of.  But no more.  The ink on the divorce papers has been dried for many months and now he positively basks in the love and grace of a woman who sees his true worth.

You.

The code name change is for you too, he likes to think.  Marcus doesn’t want you to feel pity for him or the parts of his life that lent connotation to this name, not that you ever did.  But he wants you to know that he feels every bit the man you’ve always treated him as: confident, virtuous, strong.

Your Agent Hephaestus.

Some time after he started divorce proceedings, Marcus had reflected a little more on your and his friendship.  It was easy and joyful.  You respected one another.  That you were objectively beautiful was neither here nor there; Marcus was a loyal partner to the core and truthfully didn’t even consider the attractiveness of other people while he was in a committed relationship… but now that he was no longer, he had to admit that he was very attracted to you.  And not just your pretty face and alluring figure, but all of you. 

You’re kind-hearted and smart, generous and compassionate.  You care.  He sees it in the way you conduct yourself at work – putting your all into making his fellow agents and analysts shine, making sure that no one was overlooked and that others feel seen and valued.  It’s certainly how you’ve always made him feel.  You’re sweet and funny – the friends that you make at the office, himself included, would attest that you were sometimes the best part of their work day.

And you’re open and joyful; up for trying and learning new things – never conceited or self-important, you wear your appreciation for the wonders of life and what it has to offer on your sleeve.  Your job is about making others look good, but you yourself rarely cared about clout or public accolades - your hard work and confident demeanor speak for themselves and unironically, you come off looking fantastic and everyone liked you, just cause.  One thing you never were was cruel or heartless – you give everyone a chance and extend grace to others even under stressful or difficult conditions.  The only thing you’re intolerant of is when others exhibited those self-serving attributes.  Once in a departmental meeting, some dinosaur had tried to cover up his own mistakes by throwing a young analyst under the bus – you had put a stop to it before the old man could finish his fib with a cutting and deliberate comment about the importance of integrity at the FBI.  Marcus had discreetly chuckled to himself and thanked whatever deity looking out for him that you seemed to always be on his side. 

Yes, Marcus admires you exceedingly.

A year ago, he had asked you out, nervous that you may not see him the way he now sees you, terrified of ruining your friendship.  You had been hesitant, but not for that reason – of course you’re attracted to Marcus, he’s one of the finest men you've ever known, but you worried that his heart might not be ready after what Lisbon had put him through.  You should have known better than to doubt Marcus’ capacity for love.  Taking a leap of faith in much the same way you admired him for always doing, you’re now happier than you could have ever dreamed.  Marcus dotes on you and makes you feel cherished like a goddess.  Sharing a life with him makes everything better: food tastes better, sunsets are more colourful, music sounds more harmonious; all because the man next to you makes everything good even better with his kindness and his care.  And he worships at the altar of your body like no one ever has, and you doubt ever could; Marcus loves on you with such devotion and wickedness that you regularly see the heavens themselves.

Marcus is an artist reborn – having taken something already amazing and precious, and transforming it into something even more beautiful.  Something that makes his life complete.

Marcus doesn’t tell you, but he also put in for a code name for you as well.  It’s not needed for the Public Relations department, and you’re not an agent in the traditional sense of the title, so you’ve never asked to be assigned one, but the paperwork for your code name has been submitted and approved.  Currently on standby, if and when you ever choose to accept it, it will be ready to go live.

Perhaps someday in the future, should both of you wish it, you’ll agree to become Agent Kharis in both name and in life.  Marcus cannot think of a code name more fitting for you than the name of one of the three Graces of the ancient Greek myths, goddess of Splendor, Glory and Adornment, and the beauty who saved Hephaestus from a life without love.

[bird-inacage]

Only Friends: EP10 Ray's Therapy Scene (First Focus)

I've been meaning to do a deep dive on this scene, which has no doubt been immensely commended for Khaotung's stellar performance (I'm running out of vocabulary to gush about how talented that boy is). However the purpose of this post is to highlight how equally superb First is, as I fear some may overlook the excellent work he does here.

The reason why this scene warrants a huge amount of respect is how challenging this dynamic is on both actors. Only Ray is speaking the entire way through, which means the tone and rhythm of the scene is led by Khaotung, whilst First's role here as Sand is to be reactive to this immense outpouring and release of emotion. First is required to be a very restrained and contemplative presence - a projection and visual representation of Sand in Ray's own mind. It's literally acting on a macro (Khaotung) and micro (First) level in tandem.

I want to start by mentioning how well First portrays this bedded-in weariness in Sand’s demeanor throughout, an expression we’ve seen in Episode 8. It carries this heartbreakingly heavy and worn down quality. A symptom of a man who bears far too much weight on his shoulders, whose mental toil never seems to end; a product of his own nature and those who knowingly or unknowingly take advantage of it. This is the tragedy of Sand's character. And this is the realisation that is well and truly hitting Ray now. His temper and behaviour have inevitably taken its toll on someone Ray knows doesn't deserve all the suffering he's been putting him through.

⬆️ "I was stupid, but I want you to understand me. I was mad at you because I cared so much about you."

When Ray starts asking for forgiveness, there's an air of slightly deflated scepticism that flits across Sand's face. Sand's immediate instinct is to be hopeful, to give someone the benefit of the doubt. But the reality is Ray has apologised a number of times before and that hasn’t stopped him from hurting Sand still. So Sand’s expression sobers, conscious of how likely it is that Ray will let him down again.

This is Ray acknowledging that he's fallen into a pattern of taking Sand for granted. If that’s all Sand has come to expect, why would his apology this time change anything? Ray has not earnt his redemption yet as he hasn't apologised to Sand in person, and has no guarantee it would be accepted. Which is why he's so upset because he registers that Sand's disappointment in him is fully deserved.

⬆️ "There's no one more caring or loving than you. Though I've been nothing but an asshole to you."

You see the tiniest lift of Sand's brow that's tinged with grateful disbelief, 'Me? But I'm nothing special'. His gaze softens by the sentiment, a visible breath inhaled in as if taken aback, clearly touched but hesitant to believe it. A humbling trait of Sand's is that he genuinely struggles to see his own value. He doesn't realise just how meaningful he can be to someone. That he could hold such weight.

And all the criticism that Ray has thrown at Sand has only piled onto the insecurities he possesses. Remarks that have questioned Sand's principles, his dignity, his sense of worth.

⬆️ "But if you don't want to put up with me anymore, that's alright. I get you."

Ray's image of Sand watches on as he begins to fall apart, crushed by a mixture of intense fear, regret, and despair that this may be too little too late. That his last outburst may well have been the final straw, and he failed to appreciate Sand when it mattered.

On the surface Sand may look numb or somewhat devoid of emotion, but you can detect the turbulence brewing underneath. Sand has a habit of holding in his feelings in to an almost painful degree (which begs for release). It gives you the impression he could suddenly burst at the seams at any given moment. But Sand as always holds still, holds strong, holds steady. Other than the slight twitch of his lip, he holds himself together somehow.

⬆️ "No one can put up with me".

Ray vocalises his own self-hatred, how little he deserves someone like Sand, how guilty he feels for causing this damage. Whilst he does so, Sand appears increasingly teary, lip ever so slightly quivering, brows crumpling. He looks like he desperately wants to break down and cry along with Ray.

What sets Sand apart from everyone else in Ray’s life is he understands. He can sympathise with why Ray is the way he is. Despite everything Ray has done, Sand still very much wants to protect him, shield him, care for him. He doesn't blame him. It breaks his heart to see Ray upset, to see Ray hurting. His compassion for Ray has always been his undoing.

The last thing he would want is for Ray to feel unwanted or intolerable. He tries to be the person who can withstand Ray's temper, his volatile nature, because he knows Ray is still deserving of love. It’s because of this love that he can feel every single thing that Ray is going through.

Sand exudes an incredibly strong parental presence in this scene; a form of unconditional love and patience. As we're often told by our parents, they're not angry at us when we veer off path, just disappointed and perhaps saddened on our behalf - but that won't stop them from loving us all the same. This is beautifully captured by First. You can detect Sand's selfless love for Ray in his every gaze, always.

⬆️ "Ever since you walked into my life, I've been so happy. So damn happy Sand."

This is where Sand almost breaks down as he displays a small, tentative smile that is laced with pained and tired relief. His eyes close in an attempt to maintain composure. Whilst there’s overwhelm, there’s also finally a glimmer of peace.

This is what Ray knows Sand needs to hear, what Ray wishes he'd said sooner. Ray picturing himself saying this to Sand may be a form of vindication in the event he doesn't get say this to him in-person.

Finally Ray collapses into Sand's arms. Sand seems to visibly reign in his own emotions, in order to revert back to 'care-taker' mode. Sand nods once, a gesture of kindness and true acceptance that says 'It's all okay, I know.'

He's Ray's pillar, his rock, and his raft. Sand has become Ray's primary source of safety and comfort. Sand's gaze is so endlessly gentle as he nestles in close to hold Ray. Everything about his embrace feels warm and stable in such a reassuring way. Sand is every bit as loving and caring as Ray just described him to be.

What makes this entire portrayal so devastating is this is the Sand Ray sees and knows. Ray mentions in Episode 11 that he’s been stowing away these details. Which indicates that everything Sand has done and said has not gone unnoticed. Whether it was due to denial or ignorance that prevented Ray from confronting it sooner, he has unconsciously taken note of it all. How Ray's image of Sand responds in this scene is based on every interaction he's had with Sand up until now. This imaginary representation of Sand is proof of everything that Ray has come to fall in love with.

First was not given any dialogue in which to communicate in this scene. His entire performance relies solely on the tiniest of micro-expressions and gestures. He symbolises the essence of Sand but not the physical manifestation of him. Therefore his acting may come across as understated but that’s a sign of real talent when you can say so much with so little.

[maxdibert]

Hi Max, how do you personally view fandom etiquette, and what's your prefered way to engage with fandom spaces?

Some people might say your "antagonism" and critical opinions bring negativity to fandom, which goes against some people's idea of fandom etiquette. (Not mine) Do you agree with them?

No, I don't agree with that sentiment at all. Suppressing critical opinions in the name of "fandom etiquette" only serves to reinforce echo chambers and groupthink. When we stop expressing dissenting views, we risk cultivating an environment where conformity is rewarded over genuine discourse, much like how political regimes have historically silenced criticism to maintain control.

Consider the political sphere: throughout history, many significant social and political movements—from the civil rights movement in the United States to the protests during the Arab Spring—were driven by people who dared to voice unpopular opinions. These critical voices challenged the status quo and paved the way for meaningful change. Similarly, in social debates, it is only through open, critical dialogue that we can challenge prevailing narratives and encourage a more nuanced understanding of issues.

By being openly critical, even if it means facing backlash or being labeled as antagonistic, we promote a culture where ideas are contested, refined, and improved upon. The problem isn't with having strong opinions; it's with an environment that discourages debate, thereby stifling progress. In fandom, just as in any other community, fostering diversity of thought is essential to prevent intellectual stagnation and to ensure that no single perspective dominates without scrutiny.

In short, true engagement—whether in politics, society, or fandom—demands that we embrace the discomfort that comes with honest critique. Only by challenging ideas, regardless of how unpopular they might be, can we hope to build a more robust and dynamic community.

In other words: Those who complain that I'm "bringing a bad vibe" aren't really upset about the atmosphere itself—they're upset because my polarized, confrontational opinions threaten their carefully maintained stance of neutrality or centrism on controversial topics. It forces them to choose a side, and that pristine image of people who don't get involved and who supposedly "respect everyone" starts to crack because, deep down, they actually have clear opinions—they just don't want to reveal them. I've seen people insinuate things about me, and it's funny how my opinions always trigger the same reaction: these people are more interested in keeping the fandom "united" than in acknowledging evidence—like, for example, that a character is an abuser or a crappy bully.

I don't like centrist people at all; I'd rather have folks with opinions that are completely opposite to mine, expressed openly, than those who never commit to a stance out of fear or because they need to preserve an image of unbreakable morality.

As for "fandom etiquette," honestly, I don't give a damn. I don't care if people come to argue with me, insult me, or hurl hateful comments my way because it doesn't affect me. I'm publishing my opinions in a public space where the algorithm might expose them to anyone, and I have comments and reblogs enabled. Why should I complain if someone responds? Wouldn't it be a bit cynical and absurd on my part to leave the door of my house wide open and then complain when people come in? If you don't want people entering your house, then close it. If you don't close it, why complain?

That's my mindset. If I didn't want to interact with certain people, I'd simply block or ban them, or restrict interactions only to my mutuals or followers. And honestly, I appreciate people who have the guts to speak their minds directly—there's nothing worse than folks who clearly can't stand you but won't say it out loud because they're too concerned about their public image.